Improvement in revolving lights for light-houses



e B.'F. WILLARD.

} Signal Light. Ne. 1,085. e Patented Feb. 20, I839.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

BENJAMIN F. VILLARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

lMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING LIGHTS FOR LIGHT HOUSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1,085, dated February20, 1839.

T0 aZZ whom 232? may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. WILLARD, of the city of Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Revolving Lights of Light-Houses, called \VillardsRevolving Flashing Lights, which is described as follows, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of thisspecification. I

Owing to. the multiplicity of the common revolving lights on our coastit has become very difficult for mariners to distinguish one light fromanother, so much so, indeed, that in some places it has become necessaryto incur an additional expense of erecting two or three lights in thesame place in order to render the light distinguishable fromotherlights. Now in order to save this additional expense and at thesame time to render the light clearly distinguishable from all others isthe object of this invention.

It is eifected in the following manner: In addition to the ordinaryclock-work heretofore used for imparting a regular rotary motion to themain or vertical shaft A, on which the lights are suspended, there isarranged upon and secured to the frame of the clockwork in a horizontalposition a circular rim or railwayB of any required diameter. Upon thishorizontal stationary circular rim or railway B there is made to travelaround in a circle upon its upper or flat side a vertical Wheel 0 of adiameter adapted to the number of revolutions required to be performedin passing around upon said circular railway, whose axle D turns insuitable pulley-frames E, whose shank works loosely in an oblong mortisenear the end of an arm F, extending horizontally from the vertical shaftbeyond the periphery of the circular railway.

The object of having the frame of the wheel to rise or fall loosely inthe mortise of the arm is to cause the wheel always to bear on therailway and be turned by the friction between their surfaces in contactand thus to turn the axle of the wheel, on one end of which is fixed ashade G, made of tin or any thin metallic substance, by means of asquare socket I, fastened on the arms J of the shade and slipped overthe end of the axle D, which is made square to fit said socket. Theshade G is on one end of the arm and a weight K on the other to balanceit. Said shade being then in a vertical position and directly in frontof the lights, will when in motion cause the lights to appear anddisappear in quick succession of sudden flashes. The other end of thearm is furnished with like wheel, axle, sliding frame, and revolvingshade, operating and producing the same effect as those just described.

The arm for carrying around the wheels and to which they are attached issecured to the center vertical shaft, upon which the lights aresuspended by a mortise in the center of said arm and a screw L, passingthrough the arm, by which it can be raised or lowered as a properadjustment may require. It is made to extend each way in oppositedirections and is placed directly under the revolving lights.

The invention claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent,consists in- The before-described method of rendering the revolvinglights of light-houses distinguishablefrom other revolvinglightsby meansof vertical revolving shades turned by Wheels moving on a circularrailway, to the axles of which the shades are fixed directly in front ofthe lights, which when in motion will cause the lights to appear anddisappear in quick succession of sudden flashes, as herein set forth,whether produced by the combination of parts here described or any othercombination substantially the same.

BENJAMIN F. \VILLARD.

Witnesses:

WM. P. ELLIOTT, EDMUND MAHER.

